Yesterday we ended up eating at Red Robin for lunch because it was taking longer for my cell phone to be fixed and my daughters were driving me nuts about wanting to eat. I was hungry too so I wasn't really saying no...

So we go in and me, yes me, ordered a clam chowder (I know fattening but still better than a burger and fries) and a salad with my ranch on the side (I do the fork dip thing) and I didn't even it finish everything. However I did still 3 fries but still I can't believe I did it!!! I actually ordered a soup and salad and stuck with it!

My willpower is getting sooo much better!

Good for you! I often do a similar strategy if we have a family thing at a buffet-like Ryans, Ponderosa, or other buffet. I always go for the salad...the area where the fresh fruit is cut up, and I always go for a cup of soup-usually vegetable if they have it.
The last time we went to Ryans, I had fresh cantalaupe, pineapple, and strawberries! They even had some sugar free cookies, so I had ONE, since I did so well during the meal.

I'm a bit intimidated to go to a buffet. I tend to do the all or nothing thing too, and avoidance is a big part of why I've been able to lose some weight. I just can't seem to stop myself at one, two, or even 10 fries. Nope, gotta have the whole darn box! I know I'm eventually going to have to go to Ryan's, though. Every year on the way to the beach our family stops there, it's tradition. Last year I got a roll, a taco, bourbon street chicken with mashed potatoes, some corn, mac n' cheese, AND a salad. Ugh, no wonder I was over 200 pounds! This year I hope I'll have improved my willpower to stick to the salad, soup, and maybe just one roll (they're sooo yummy!)

Thats great! GOOD FOR YOU!!
Fries are my weakness so I try to stay far away from them!
You did great with only three I would be afraid that I would grab the salt and eat them fast...

Good for you! It's those choices that will make the difference long-term

Way to go !!!

I learned this past year that if you order a sandwich or burger at Red Robin, that you can substitute a salad for the fries. They have boca burgers too!

One of my light bulb moments was when I moved from ordering a half sandwich and soup (which also comes with bread) at Panera Bread, to JUST ordering the soup. They now offer multigrain bread as a side option, so I get that. And the soup and bread are not only yummy, but they fill me up! Who knew I didn't have to eat a ton to be satisfied!

I think that when it comes to going to a buffet, or any restaurant for that matter, that the key is to plan ahead-rather than sitting down while you are starving and ordering/putting on your plate whatever looks good at the time.
Even if it is a last minute trip that you were unprepared for-think about what to order while you are driving to the restaurant, or walking across the parking lot. If you use your "head" before you walk in, you gain some self control.

I often plan my meals this way. I don't avoid going to a restaurant-what I avoid is eating Pan Crust Meat Lover's pizza when my husband wants to go to Pizza Hut. If I inform myself beforehand and stay on top of what the restaurants are offering in some spare "surfing time" on the computer-than I am prepared when I go in. I have a couple slices of Thin N Crispy Veggie Lovers pizza with a Diet Pepsi or unsweetened tea-and I am completely satisfied for about 400-600 calories for dinner. (2 or 3 slices)

There are so many options that may not "sound" as good as something fattening, but they really are. Bob Evans has a wonderful vegetable beef soup that is lower calorie/lower fat-and it is wonderful and reminds me of my mother's. If the family wants to go there, then I order that, and the side order fresh fruit cup. I enjoy every minute of it because it is really good-even if it isn't pancakes or the pot pie.

At Panera Bread, I usually get a broth based soup, and the little cup of fresh fruit-and savor it.

At Starbucks, I get a skinny (nonfat) latte in the smallest size-it is basically black coffee and a serving of skim milk, so I get a skim dairy serving in. (You can get the nutritional info online or in their store pamphlet.) Add a dash of Splenda, and I am loving it...I don't need a 2,000 calorie humongo sized mocha with whipped cream.

I try not to think of it as "missing out" on anything. My tastes have actually changed in the past few years of eating healthy-so I would actually rather have whole wheat pasta or bread now instead of white...I would rather have sliced strawberries WITHOUT any sugary syrup in them...and I would rather have a soda or coffee with sweetener instead of a regular one. (They feel very syrupy on the tongue now.)

The main key for me, is to think about what I am going to get BEFORE I am asked by the waitress/register person. I can walk into the coffee shop expecting to order the nonfat latte-and do it-rather than going in, looking at the foo-foo drinks others are ordering, and saying to myself "Well that looks good-I might have one of those." It is just adjusting my thinking a little bit, I guess.

You could also try eating an apple and drinking a full glass of water before going to the buffet. I know an apple and water doesn't compare to a buffet full of goodness, but for me it helps stop the hunger pains and eat a bit more light than going in with an empty tummy.

I do pretty good at buffets. For about the first year of my weight loss journey I purposely avoided them until I had lost a significant amount of weight and gained the willpower I needed to NOT go up to the food and pile my plate with deep-fried goodies. Those were always the things I'd go for first. Fried fish, fried chicken, deep-fried vegetables, etc. I simply wouldn't allow myself to be faced with that situation. But now I can go to a buffet and make wise choices. I stick with the lean meats and vegetables, mostly. Sometimes I have a salad first, sometimes not. It depends if I'm in the mood for salad. And sometimes I'll go ahead and allow myself maybe one piece of fried chicken, the smallest piece I can find. It's one of my favorite foods and I don't deny myself completely.

I don't always have dessert (usually not) but Hometown Buffet has low-sugar choices and those are usually what I go for.

I LOVE Red Robin! They have a great salad that I get everytime...the Fiesta Fajita Pollo Salad. I get the dressing on the side and then scarf the whole thing. If I can't resist I have one or two of DH's fries and that's it!

Good job resisting and getting something better for you! Keep up the good work!

Sara

Don't feel bad on stealing the fries, girls, I do it all the time. Sometimes my husband will pick up Wendy's or the like for dinner (for him and my son, I always tell him NOT to get me anything, I'll fix my own food) and I have to steal a few fries from them

A few every now and then is better than sitting down to a whole order!

Congratulations!!!

Wow! What a great accomplishment! Red Robin has the best burgers and I know how hard it is to not order one.

Another idea for when you go out to restaurants is to ask the hostess for the menu while your waiting to be seated. It gives you an opportunity to browse it for healthier items and not get overwhelmed. Applebee's actually has menu items designated as Weight Watcher meals and they note the points for each one. My family and I went to Applebee's for dinner last night and seeing these healthier choices on the menu before we were seated helped me stick with it. Ordered a Southwest Chicken Salad, 9 points, which I only ate 1/2 of and DH finished it off for me.

Congrats! I hope the next time I'm tempted, I can have will power like you.

They have been doing this part of their menu for a few years, and it is wonderful. For those not on WW, the calories, fat, and fiber information is available on both the menu, and on the Applebees website.